July 27, 2013

So I'm a little late but here's Elder Oberg's latest e-mails and pictures!

Magandang Umaga!

 

So this week has been really crazy. So you know how our companionship got rearranged so I was in a three-some with Elder Finch and Elder Hinton? Well, because of how bad Elder Gallen is struggling, and it made it really hard for Elder Parry the past few weeks, our Branch President made reassignments again. I think he made them on Wednesday? The days all blend. Anyway, my new companion is Elder Gallen, and the other three are in a threesome. It's kind of hard, but it was actually really cool. I have been wanting to be able to help out because Elder Parry was struggling getting Gallen to be obedient and to help plan the lessons. I was able to have a "companionship inventory" with him the first night and we had a heart-to-heart. He told me about his family and his conversion story, which was really cool. He also told me about how dangerous it is in Ponpei in Micronesia. His family was persecuted for joining the church which is really sad, but it opened my eyes to how blessed we are!

 

I saw Elder Jake Meline the other day! He came in on Wednesday and it was awesome to catch up with him. It's really cool to see friends in the MTC.

 

Yesterday was really good until about lunch time. Elder Gallen really doesn't like sitting with our district at lunch. He is really used to eating alone and then talking to people later, however it's against the rules to be alone. So we've been trying to get him to sit with us which is the one thing he struggles the most with. Occasionally he talks about wanting to "get fired" and go home, which is really hard for me to hear. But I don't think he means it and we're all pulling together to try to help him out.

 

Oh! On Sunday for our devotional, we watched the talk by Elder Bednar called "The Character of Christ" which he had given to the MTC a while ago, I don't know how long ago. But it was amazing. I'm not kidding when I tell you that it's probably the best talk I've ever heard. He talks about how when we go through trials we tend to "turn inward" and focus on ourselves and wanting people to help us out. But when Christ suffered in Gethsamane by himself without comfort, the apostols couldn't even stay awake with Him. But he wasn't upset with them. Probably disappointed, but not upset. And having suffered so badly just barely, and then being betrayed by one of His closest friends, he still served the guard by healing his ear. Not only that, but when He suffered on the cross, He said "Father, forgive them. For they know not what they do." In His deepest agony, He was looking out for others. And that's who Christ is. I hope that talk is available on LDS.org, but i'm not sure so please check and watch it. It's incredible.

 

The Sisters in our district are super fun. They are really happy all the time and they're fun to be with. It's so cool, in the MTC our district is literally a family.

 

I'm sorry I'm not very organized, but that's how it is with limited time! I hope Michelle sent out those stupid pictures just so you can remember what a fool I am!

 

Mahal ko kayo!

 

-Elder Oberg

This is my new companion! This was his first time eating a ghiradelli chocolate and he thought it was awesome that there was a bird engraved on it! It was pretty funny but awesome how much he liked it.

Oops!

I forgot to share with you Elder Oberg's e-mail from last week, so these are from last week and this week!

Magandang Umaga everyone!

 

So the beginning of the week was fairly hard, but trust me it's been so much better since Thursday and I've learned a lot! Tagalog is pretty crazy, but we finally started learning how to conjugate 'mag' verbs and 'in' verbs which is hard to keep track of, but it's making sense. The spirit here in the MTC is awesome, especially during Sunday and Tuesday night devotionals. Time is going by so slow and so fast at the exact same time, it's definitely a new experience for me.

 

Anyway, last week after we did laundry, I was walking with my companion, Elder Hinton back to our residence hall. At the end, he wasn't really paying attention and walked into a pole. It was pretty awesome and we still make fun of him for it. But we all do things that deserve to be made fun of. The elders in our district, (the sisters too, but the elders are more immature) have a stupid little joke. In Tagalog, 'mabuti' is good, and 'tubig' is water, so after we get a drink we say Mabuti tubig! If you don't get it, say it out loud.

 

We've been teaching Nila for a while. We taught her about the Book of Mormon, the Apostasy and Restoration, and about baptism and repentance. Then, we commited her to be baptized which was an awesome experience. We are getting a new investigator on Monday and we are going to start teaching two. It will be interesting, but my Tagalog is starting to get a little better so we'll see how it goes. Our teacher, Brother Kovach is flipping awesome and he said that his goal for us was that we'd be pretty much fluent in Tagalog by the time we leave the MTC on August 13. Of course, we'll have much to learn in the field though, especially because they say somethings a little different.

 

On Wednesday I was having a really hard time, but I had a good chat with Elder Finneman, one of the zone leaders. He leaves to go into the field on Monday which is awesome. Since then it's been pretty amazing. My district is really fun. Elder Finch, Elder Linstrom, and Elder Parry and I have been getting along really well. Elder Parry kind of reminds me of Brother Sigafus, which explains why I get along with him so well. I like my companion, his personality is just a little different for me to get used to. But of course, I have some things to work on, and I know I need to work on developing charity and patience. I'm working on it, trust me. The sisters in our district, Sister Keith, Sister Brewer, Sister Reed, and Sister Burnham are pretty cool too. We have a lot of fun in class, even though it's hard sometimes.

 

Thursday was awesome and I got a package from home! I actually just barely got a package today from the Hartley's, which was extremely kind of them! We have gym time everyday and I'm trying to start running. It's fun, and I'm trying to stay in decent shape, especially because of how much they feed us here. Oh and at lunch, I was walking to put my tray away, and I stopped to let someone pass by and my kosama (companion) didn't notice so he walked into me and bumped his tray so a glass fell and shattered on the ground. It was kind of funny, but I felt bad for the MTC staff. We helped them clean it up, but still.

 

Anyway, I don't really know what else to tell you, especially because I have such limited time. But I appreciate all your emails/letters and I hope all is going well for you!

 

Mahal ko kayo!

 

And remember, whatever it is: Kaya mo iyan! (You can do it!)

 

-Elder Oberg

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Kumusta!

 

This week has been pretty crazy.

 

So on Saturday, after I emailed and such, Elder Linstrom, one of the elders in my district, went home. It was pretty sad and really hard for Elder Finch (his companion.) Elder Linstrom had been suffering from an emotional problem and so they prayed and decided it would be best for him to go home until it is treated. But he plans on coming back in a few years once it's resolved, and I really think he will. So now I'm in a threesome companionship with Elder Hinton and Elder Finch.

 

Pretty much everyday is the same, but it's awesome! In the morning we have class in which we talk about Tagalog, how to begin teaching, and other doctrinal topics depending on the day. It's pretty good, but three hours sometimes feels like a long time. Oh, and we're now teaching Nichole as well as Boboy and their super awesome. I'm still not fluent in Tagalog yet, but it's coming little by little. My verb conjugations are getting better, it's just difficult to remember which verb goes with which conjugation. But that really probably doesn't matter to you anyway.

 

On Tuesday, we had our devotional at the Marriott Center and my district made me sing with them in the choir. I basically mouthed the words, but it was still a really cool experience. It was broadcasted to all of the international MTC's and we took a picture of all the missionaries in there. It's super cool because they've only done that three times. And the talks were amazing. Elder Richard G. Hinckley of the 70 spoke with his wife.

 

Elder Parry is probably my best friend out here right now. We relate to each other and get along super well, which is pretty cool. I'm trying to work out my differences with Elder Hinton, which is slowly coming. Elder Finch is really helpful in our companionship. He's a good kid. So Elder Gallen is from Pompeii which is an island in Micronesia. He had to learn english, and now he's learning Tagalog from English speaking teachers, which is pretty hard for him. But he's really funny, he says the weirdest things and I don't know if he knows half of what he's saying. He's awesome, but he drinks probably 5 cans of soda a day, so we're trying to work with him on that.

 

I'm sorry I really don't have a whole lot of time, and I'm thinking that the majority of my emails will be the same and boring until I get into the field. Haha, but we'll see. If everything goes according to plan, I fly out on August 13

 

If you guys get the chance, read 3 Nephi 12! It's amazing! Also Moroni 7 is an awesome chapter and I read from it almost every day.

 

Mahal ko kayo!

-Elder Oberg

Elder Oberg's first e-mail!

Elder Oberg just sent his first e-mail yesterday, so here it is!

Kumusta everyone!

So far the MTC experience has been both really cool and really hard. I'll
be honest, this is probably one of the hardest things I've ever done. I've
only been here for about three-ish days, but it feels more like I've been
here for three months. Seriously, time is going by so slow, but I heard it
starts to get easier after Sunday. I really hope that's the case! Anyway,
there are quite a few missionaries in my district, there are a lot of
missions in the Philippines, and a lot of people there too! Obviously, but
still.. Anyway, the first day as soon as I got there I got registered,
dropped off my stuff, and went straight to class. I walked in and the
teacher, Brother Kovach was speaking Tagalog to us the whole time! It was
nuts but really cool. We've learned how to greet, say prayers, and bear
testimony, but I'm not super great at it yet. The language is kicking my
butt and I don't know how I'm going to learn it in six weeks. I've prayed
more here in the last few days than I probably ever hard. I have to stay
busy because if I'm not, I can't help but think of home and all you guys. I
love you all so much.

Brother Schow already taught me, but I forgot how to say faith in Tagalog.
I finally remembered it here, if you want to have some fun and say it, it's
pananampalataya. Such a fun word to say. My companion is Elder Hinton, he's
from Lehi, I think the southern part like where Ryan lives. He knew Darius
Malit which is really cool! We're constantly doing something here, and it's
weird to get used to not having much free time, but I like it. I need
something else to keep my mind on. The other elders in my district who room
with me are Elder Finch, Elder Linstrom, Elder Parry, and Elder Gallen.

Hello!

I'm just making this blog to keep anyone who wants to know updated on Elder Oberg's life. As this is the first post I guess I'll let y'all know what's going on!

Elder Christopher Oberg has been called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Philippines, Laoag Mission, where he'll be speaking the language of Tagalog.

Today he was officially ordained an Elder, with only immediate family around. It was all very emotional, and I won't lie, I probably cried the most. If you weren't able to attend his farewell this last Sunday, June 30, 2013, you should know that you missed out! His talk was amazing, ask anyone who saw it. Also, if you want to receive updates from him via e-mail send me your e-mail address and I'll add you to the list(:

Thank you to everyone who has supported him thus far. I know he'll be the best missionary out there, even though I'll be lonely without him. He leaves tomorrow at 1:30, everyone wish him luck!

Love, Elder Oberg's super awesome sister, Michelle(: